Alternating-current motive and-regulating device



.(No Model.)

B. THOMSON.

ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTIVE AND REGULATING DEVICE.

No. 377,217. Patented Jan. 31, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ELIHU THOMSON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ALTERNATiNG-CURRENT MOTIVE ANDREGULATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,217, dated January31, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, ELIHU TrIoMsoN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and usefnl Alternating-Current Motive andRegulating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved device adapted foruse on alternating-current circuits, either as a motive device which maybe used for any of the purposes for which electro-magnets are ordinarilyemployed on continuous-current circuits, or for use as a regulatingdevice to vary or control the counter electro-motive force or reactionat a point on an alternating-current circuit, or for other purposes.

My invention consists of a novel device employing, in combination, aclosed conducting circuit of low resistance and high self-induction inwhich rapidly-alternating currents are produced by analternating-current coil or alternating magnetic field, with a core ofironsuch as a bundle of iron wireswhich forms the core of the samealternating-current coil, or of another coil in which alternatingcurrents flow, the two parts-to wit, the magnetic core and that formingthe closed conducting-eircuit in which the alternating induced currentsare set np-being combined with one another or with the coil or coilsacting on them, or the two coils themselves (if two coils be employed)being so combined or mechanically connected that a change in therelation of the closed induced circuit with relation to its inducingagent shall be accompanied by a simultaneous change in the magneticrelation of the core to its alternating-current coil.

The closed conducting-circuit, which may be of any form, is ofsufficiently low resistance and high self-induction to cause acontinuous repulsion between the conductor forming the point where thenext alternating inducing current will be sufficiently established toproduce the effect of continuous repulsion.

Some of the various forms of device in which my invention may beembodied are shown in the accompanying seven (7) figures of drawings invertical crosssection.

Referring to Figure I, 1? indicates a coil or wire in which alternatingcurrents flow from any source, while I indicates a core for said coil,consisting, preferably, of a bundle of iron wires connected to a clinder, C, of copper or other good condilctifgmfmrms the path foralternating induced currents of high selfinduction set up by theinfluence of the alternating currents in the coil P. The conductor andcore may be supported, if desired, on a lever, L, provided with acounterpoise-weight, W. Any other device may be employed to support andguide the parts so that they may move together. The alternating currentspassing in coil 1? will tend to pull the core I into the coil,and at thesame time will tend, through the presence of the induced electriccurrents in the conductor 0, to repel the latter out of the coils, theresulting force being summative in character, and exerting a push orpull tending to move two parts together in an upward direction. Thismovement or tendency to movement may be utilized in any desired manner.also result from such a movement an increase of reaction or counterelcct-romotive force in the coils P, which will tend to cut down thecurrent in said coils. This is due to the fact that the magnetic core Iis moved farther into the coils, while the closed conducting mass of Ois moved farther away from the inducing field or coils, so that less ofthe currentin coil There will P is expended in the inductive action of'set- V ting up currents in said conductor. Solong as the conductor 0remains in the coil the current in the coil (in part) spends itsinductive action in setting up currents in the conductor instead ofcounter GlBClJlOlllOlJlVG force or reaction by self-induction.

In the form of my device shown in Fig. 2 the closed conductor is made asa tapering band which surrounds the upper part of the iron core I. Thealternating current in coil P will in this arrangement of the devicestend to draw the core I into the coils, thus causing an increasedreaction or kick, while at the same time, through the simultaneous andgradual insertion of the conductor 0, the tendency to kick or reactionis diminished through the expenditure of the alternating currents ininducing currents in the conductor 0.

Fig. 3 shows a variation in which the closed conductor or circuit isrepelled from one coil, while at the same time the coil connected to orcombined therewith is attracted into the same coil or another coil, P,connected with that which acts on conductor 0. If the coils P P are inthe same alternating-current circuit, the effects will be the same as inthe case of the devices shown in Fig. 1to wit, a motion due to thecombined attractive and repulsive effects of the coils on the parts 0and I, and an accompanying increased reactive effect in the circuitincluding the coils.

In Fig. 4 a substantially similar arrangement is shown, the parts 0 andI being in this case, however, mechanicallyconnected and combinedthrough a lever, L. The coil P repels the conductor 0, while the coil Pattracts the core I, and thus causes increased reaction in both coils,in company with a movement of the parts in the direction shown by thearrow. Coils P and P, Figs. 3 and 4, may be in sep arate circuits orparts of a circuit, and an increase of current in coil P would then befollowed by the introduction of the core I into the coil P, so as tocause an increased reaction or counter electro-motive tendency to l thealternating currents in the coil P, owing to the repulsion of theconductorO, and the consequent introduction of the core Ifartherinto thecoils P. A spring, S, adjustable or otherwise, may act against therepelling force existing between the conductor 0 and its inducing coilor agent.

The actions described may be reversed, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, wherethe parts are shown so arranged and combined that the core I iswithdrawn from its coil when the current increases in the coil P, whichacts on the closedcircuit conductor 0, so as to repel the latter fromsaid coil; hence by the device Fig. 5 the increased reaction caused bythe movement of closed-circuit conductor 0 out of its coil P may be madetoproduce or be accompanied by a decreased reaction in the coil Pthrough the withdrawal of the iron core I. If, therefore, coils P and Pbe joined as one, the change of reactive effect due to the movement ofone may be compensated by the changein relation of the other to its coilor portion of coil, so that the resultant reactive effect of both coilswill remain practically the same for the different positions of the twoparts. This particular combination is useful where it is desired toobtain movement of the parts by the action of alternating currents,without, however, changing the electrical relation of the coils to thecircuit in which they are placed.

In Fig. 6 the parts 0 I are joined by a lever, and a spring, S, tends tohold the parts in a position shown against the repulsive tendencyexisting between the conductor 0 and the coil P. If the coils areseparate coils in different circuits, or in'different parts of the samecircuit, an increase of current in the coil P will, as before, bywithdrawing the core I, cause the coil P to oppose a decreased reactiveeffect to the alternating impulses, which latter would meet with lesscounter electro-motive force or tendency due to the self-induction ofthe coils P, and the current in the circuit of said coils wouldtherefore tend to increase.

I have described the combined action of the core and inducing-conductoras being produced by making said parts movable, the coil P beingstationary; but it is quite obvious that the same effects can beproduced by moving the coils with relation to the core or the conductor.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of this na ture in which the sameaction isproduced as in the case of the devices Fig. 6, the coils Pbeing mounted on the lever L and arranged with relation to the conductor0, which is stationary, in such way that the mutual repulsion existingwill tend to depress the one end and raise the opposite end of thelever.

My invention is particularly applicable to the construction ofinstruments for indicating the force of alternating currents, forregulating such currents, for prime motive or controlling devices onalternating-current circuits, and for other uses which will readilyoccur to electricians.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A motive or regulating device foralternating-current circuits, consisting of a closed conducting-circuitin which currents of high self-induction are inductively generated,combined with a mass of magnetic material, preferably subdivided,serving as the core of an alternatingcurrent coil with relation to themagnetic field of which the core varies magnetically simultaneously witha change in the inductive relation ofthe conducting-circuit and itsinducing agent.

2. The combination, substantially as described, of a closedconducting-band or conductor, an alternating-current coil which sets upcurrents of high self-induction in said conductor, and an iron core ormass, preferably subdivided, whose magnetic relation with reference tothe magnetic field of the same or a different alternating-current coilvaries simultaneously with a change in the relation of the closedconductor and its inducing agent, as and for the purpose described.

3. A motive or regulating device for alternating-current circuits,consisting, essentially, of one or more alternating-current coils, aclosed-circuit conductor adapted to carry induced currents of highself-induction, and an iron core connected to said conductor and movablewith the same into different positions in the magnetic field, as and forthe purpose described.

4. The combination, substantially as described, of analternating-current coil or coils, a closed conducting-circuit in whichcurrents IIO Its

are set up by induction, a core for an alternating-current coil, andmeans whereby the in ductive relation of both core and conductor to thecoil or coils may be simultaneously varied.

5. The combination, with one or more alterhating-current coils, of amovable conductor in which currents of high self-induction are set up,and a connected core adapted to have a movement of translation in thefield of the conductor, whereby a movement of the conductor may beaccompanied by a change in the reactive capacity of the coil due to thepresence of the core.

6. The combination, on an alternatingcurrent circuit, of a coil orcoils, a core for one or both of said coils, and a closedcircuitconductor, said elements being connected in the manner described, sothat a movement producing a change in the inductive relation of one ofthe parts with reference to the coil will impartmovement to anotherpartin the proper manner to produce a compensation by changing theinductive relation of said latter part to the coil in the circuit.

Signed at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, this23d day of March, A. D. 1887.

ELIHU THOMSON.

\Vitnesses:

E. WILBUR RIoE, J r., J. W. GIBBONEY.

